In this the 92nd year there are fewer finalists down to 38,
although
there were 868 entries, and
some of the more well-known subjects include Anthony Mundine, Asher Keddie,
Bille Brown, Ken Done and Naomi Watts and for the first time (for me anyway)
not a Politian to be seen.
The Archibald Prize is one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious art
prizes. It’s awarded to the best portrait painting, preferentially of some man
or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics. Jules François Archibald’s primary aim,
through his bequest of 1919, was to foster portraiture, as well as support
artists, and perpetuate the memory of great Australians.
 |
| Hugo Weaving by Del Kathryn Barton |
The trend of past
years seems to continue with mainly two kinds of work, the huge, over oiled
type or the totally photogenic. Mind you this year most of the finalists have
made use of a full colour palate – a nice change over those many sepia pencil
portraits of the last few years.
The winner is full of
colour and seemed poplar amongst the art gallery crowd the day I visited,
although it seemed to lack soul for me. Del Kathryn Barton’s decorative, highly
detailed painting of Hugo Weaving is a vibrant and joyous portrait – combining
traditional painting techniques with contemporary design. This is her fourth
time in the Archibald Prize which she won in 2008 with a portrait of herself
with her two children.
